Ditcher



July 6, 1937. c. AKERBLADE DITCHER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 25, 1936zar/Es flme/p/ade B5126 I q med A Home}; 5

July 6, 1937. c. AKERBLADE 2,086,059

DITQHER Filed March 25, 1936 s Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor a 6 A Home}:

July 6, 1937. c. AKERBLADE 2,086,059

'DITCHER Filed March 25, 1956 s Sheets-Sheet :5

7 7 i I Ilnvenlof /0 7/ f v V Ukar/ea fl/rerj/ade A llomey m PatentedJuly 6, 1937 UNITED STATES DITCHER Charles Akerblade,

Application March 25,

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to a ditcher and has for its prime objectto provide means whereby a ditch may be dug by a machine of varyingdepths through the proper manipulation of convenient and reliable means.

Another important object of the invention resides in the provision of aditcher of this nature which is comparatively simple in itsconstruction, inexpensive to manufacture, thoroughly efiicient andreliable in use, convenient and compact in its arrangement of parts andotherwise well adapted to the purpose for which it is designed.

With the above and numerous other objects in view as will appear as thedescription proceeds,

the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, and inthe combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter morefully described and claimed.

In the drawings:-

Figure l is a top plan view of a machine embodying the features of myinvention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a front elevation thereof.

Figure 4 is a vertical detail section taken substantially on the line4-4 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings in detail it will be seen that numeral 5denotes the digging nose, the upper edges of which merge into anisosceles triangular plate 6 and the ends of which merge into rearwardlydiverging wings I the rear ends of which taper downwardly as at 8 into aterminal point.

Now referring to the means for. supporting the digging element and theadjustments incident thereto. Numeral 9 denotes what I call a casterwheel mounted on an axle I0 supported in an inverted U-shaped structureH the lower ends of which are curved rearwardly as shown to advantage inFigure 4. The bight or cross portion has a bolt l2 extendingtherethrough with a bearing sleeve M on the lower portion thereof. A U-shaped bracket has its cross portion 55 provided with an opening toreceive the upper end of the bolt and its uprights have a bolt I6extending therethrough for rockably supporting an elongated beam ll.Links l8 connect the forward end of the beam H with bars I 9 the rearends of which are curved as at and the terminals of which are secured asat 2| with the wings I. Numeral 23 denotes a hitch bar with suitableapertures 24 therein and braced as at 25 and 26 with respect to the rods59 and also braced with respect to the beam l! by pivoted links 28.

Numeral 28 denotes a cross member between the rear portion of the wingsI and rising there- Hawk Springs, Wyo.

1936, Serial No. 70,882

from are bars 30 between which the beam l1 extends. A stop pin 3! ismounted between the upper extremities of the rods 30. A removable pin 32is mounted intermediate the ends thereof above the beam H and may beremoved to lower the nose end of the digging element.

A shaft 35 is journaled in bearings 36 mounted on the rear portions ofthe wings 9 rearwardly oi the member 29 and has cranks 31 on the endsthereof terminating in trunnions it on which are journaled wheels 4!.This shaft has fixed thereto a lever 42 cooperable by a suitable detentmechanism with a bracket 43 fixed as at 44 with the cross member 29 sothat the rear end of the digging element may be adjusted up or down asmay be required.

It is thought that the construction, operation,

manipulation and advantages of this invention will now be quite apparentto those skilled in this art without a more detailed descriptionthereof.

The present embodiment of the invention has been described inconsiderable detail merely for the purposes of exemplification since inactual practice it attains the features of advantage enumerated asdesirable in the statement of the invention and the above description.

It will be apparent that changes in the details of construction, and inthe combination and arrangement of parts maybe resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the invention as hereinafterclaimed or sacrificing any of its advantages.

What is claimed is:,

1. A ditching machine comprising a V-shaped plow member including a noseand having wings diverging rearwardly from the nose, a shaft'rockablymounted on the rear of the wings, cranks on the extremity of the shaftcarrying wheels Whereby the rear end of the p-low may be raised orlowered by the movement of the shaft, a wheeled support including anupstanding bracket positioned near the apex and behind the nose of theplow, an elongated beam fulcrumed on the bracket in a manner to beunbalanced and having a portion extending forwardly of the nose of theplow, connecting arms at one end rockably connected with the forward endof the beam and at their other ends to the forward portion of the plow,the connection of the arms and beam disposed in a manner to carry thegreatest weight forwardly, and means for connecting the rear end of thebeam to the rear end of a wing so that movement of the rear end of theplow relative to the groundcauses a reverse movement at the forward endwhereby the one adjustment regulates the nose of the plow.

2. A ditching machine comprising a V-shaped plow member including a noseand having wings diverging rearwardly from the nose, a shaft rookablymounted on the rear of the wings, cranks on the extremity of the shaftcarrying wheels whereby the rear end of the plow may be raised orlowered by the movement of the shaft, a wheeled support including anupstanding bracket positioned near the apex and behind the nose of theplow, an elongated beam fulcrumed on the bracket in a manner to beunbalanced and havin a portion extending forwardly of the nose of theplow, connecting arms at one end rockably connected with the forward endof the beam and at their other ends to the forward portion of the plow,the connection of the arms and beam disposed. in a manner to carry thegreatest weight forwardly, and means for connecting the rear end of thebeam to the rear end of a wing so that movement of the rear end of theplow relativeto the ground causes a reverse movement at the forward endwhereby the one adjustment regulates the nose of the plow, and meanscarried by the rear portion of the plow and coacting with the shaft toraise and lower the plow relative to the ground.

CHARLES AKERBLADE.

